Powerful Imaging Tool Unveiled

New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno joined Rensselaer officials at the NMR unveiling in March. Photo by Kris Qua

In March, Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson and New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno joined biotechnology researchers and business leaders at the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies to unveil a powerful new tool  a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer  that aids in research on the cause and treatment of disease.

“The addition of cutting-edge NMR technology is an important investment as we continue to build the infrastructure in this world-class research facility,” said President Jackson. “This state-of-the-art equipment is already attracting new researchers to Rensselaer who are working at the forefront of discovery in basic and applied health research.”

“The Capital Region, particularly RPI, is a 21st-century leader in cutting-edge biotechnology and life sciences research, and today’s announcement certainly bolsters that reputation,” said Bruno. “The new nuclear magnetic resonance equipment will dramatically improve the ability of doctors and researchers to better understand and treat diseases that affect the lives of thousands of people, giving us yet another tool in the battle to cure them once and for all.”

The NMR spectrometer is a superconducting magnet that uses strong magnetic fields to provide detailed information on the 3-D structure of biological molecules. This information can assist researchers who are seeking to better understand proteins that cause disease and seeking new therapies to treat disease. Researchers are now using the high-field magnet to study health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and to develop new methods for using NMR technology.

The new Bruker Biospin 800 MHz is currently the most sensitive and powerful NMR spectrometer in upstate New York. It joins a 600 MHz unit obtained last year for Rensselaer’s developing NMR facility.